Foundry molding machine

ABSTRACT

A foundry molding machine for forming foundry sand articles such as molds or cores having a mold box mounted on a trunnion cradle for vertical movement, such cradle including an extending guide, and a retractible pivot roller confined in the guide and normally aligned with the cradle trunnion pivot in a vertical direction, such pivot roller being cammed out of such vertical alignment as the cradle moves therepast to invert the box for drawing and stripping of the formed article onto a horizontal conveyor, such article being spaced a predetermined distance from the conveyor before the box is stripped therefrom.

United fitted il ntet' Dec. 14, 1971 The Sherwin-Willlinms Company Cleveland, Ohio [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] FOUNDRY MOLMNG MACitlllhllE 111 Clminw, 9 Drawing Figs.

[ 56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,268,208 12/1941 Fellows 164/38 2,733,488 2/1956 Valyi 164/226X 3,253,304 5/1966 11mm. 164/195X FOREIGN PATENTS 355,044 8/1931 GreatBritain 164/185 Primary Examiner-.1. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John E. Roethel Attorney-Oberlin, Maky, Donnelly & Renner AlES'llIRACT: A foundry molding machine for forming foundry sand articles such as molds or cores having a mold box mounted on a trunnion cradle for vertical movement, such cradle including an extending guide, and a retractible pivot roller confined in the guide and normally aligned with the cm dle trunnion pivot in a vertical direction, such pivot roller being cammed out of such vertical alignment as the cradle moves therepast to invert the box for drawing and stripping of the formed article onto a horizontal conveyor, such article being spaced a predetermined distance from the conveyor before the box is stripped therefrom.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 3,627,022

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ROBERT a. SH/EL 05 E ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 14, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ROBERT 6. SHIEL 05 ATTORNEYS a Y ,MM4M

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 9 2 m mm INVENT OR ROBERT 6'. SHIELDS ,M,M V

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 14, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 v INVENTOR ROBERT G. SH/EL 0.5

l l 6 ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 14, 1971 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ROBERT G. SH/EL 05 Y V J h ,fi M

M M ATTORNEYS molding machine and more particularly to a machine FOUNDRY MULDIING hllrttClillllhllE DlSCLOSlJlRlE This invention relates generally as indicated to a foundry capable of quickly and automatically forming'large sand molds or a variety of smaller cores. The present invention represents certain improvements in the type of machine shown, for example, in Ellms US. Pat. No. 3,089,205 or llatch US. Pat. No. 3,252,304. Such patents represent automatic mold and core blowing machines sold in substantial number by The Osborn Manufacturing (Company of Cleveland, Uhio under the trademark .Quiltore.

The present invention relates to certain improvement in the rollover and stripping mechanism. in such prior art machines, there is employed side cam plates having a cam slot which extends about a fixed pivot. The cradle supporting the mold box includes an extending guide clevis fitted over the pivot and the entire mold box is camrned about the pivot through such slot to effectuate a rollover or turnover action. The fabrication of the cam slot requiring special wear resistant surfaces is, of course, costly. With the present invention, a. more simplified, economical and wear-resistant mechanism is provided enabling the machine to be applied to the production of large or massive foundry molds. Also, the sand articles may be positively placed onto a take away conveyor by spacing such articles a predetermined distance from such conveyor and then removing the box therefrom.

it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a machine for producing foundry sand articles of the type shown in the above-noted patents having an improved rollover and stripping mechanism.

It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide a foundry molding machine having a mold box inversion mechanism not requiring the mold box to deviate from a linear path.

A further principal object is the provision of a rollover mechanism for a foundry molding machine wherein the guide pivot is cammed out of alignment with the trunnion of the mold box as the latter moves past the guide pivot.

Another object is the provision of such foundry molding machine where the guide pivot is spring held in position to maintain proper orientation of the mold box before and after the rollover.

A further object is the provision of such machine having an improved stripping mechanism which spaces the article a predetermined distance or clearance from the conveyor and with the article held at such distance, the mold box is removed therefrom.

Qther objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative however, of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation partially broken away of a machine in accordance with the present invention;

Fit]. .2 is an end elevation of the machine of FIG. i seen from the line 2-2 ofFlG. i;

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line Zl3 of FIG. ll;

FIG. d is a similar fragmentary horizontal section again somewhat enlarged taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. it;

FIG. 55 is an enlarged vertical section showing the detail of the cam engaging roller taken substantially on the line ---5 of FIG. b;

FlG. b is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line on of FIG. ll;

MG. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal section taken substantially on the line 7- 7 of EEG. b;

lFlG. fl is a fragmentary side elevation of the machine on an enlarged scale showing in phantom lines the position of the cradle and guide at the beginning of the rollover movement; and

lFllG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to FIG. 8 showing the cradle and guide in phantom lines near the completion of the rollover movement and in full lines depositing the mold on the conveyor.

Referring now to the annexed drawings and more particularly to FiGS. l and 2, it will be seen that the machine comprises an upstanding frame ill which includes corner columns of square sectional shape as seen at 1111 and E2 on opposite sides of the machine. The columns R2 include center outwardly offset sections seen at lid and in FIG. 2. The purpose of the offset is to accommodate a portion of the inversion mechanism hereinafter described.

Transversely extending frame members lti, l7 and lit extend between such columns, the former between the columns ill and the latter two between the columns H2. The transverse frame members 11'? and lb form cantilever supports for the offset portion lid and lb ofsuch columns H2.

The columns support a head frame Ell also fabricated of the square or rectangular tubular frame members. The head frame supports the blow reservoir 2i and each side thereof A-frames 22. and 23. Such A-frames support at their upper ends the blind ends of long-strolte hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies 21d and 25.

On the top of the reservoir there is supported a frame 27 in the center of which is a sand-resin mix hopper 2h. Communication betwecn the hopper and the reservoir is controlled by a butterfly valve member 2% shown in PEG. 1 in the open position. Such valve member is controlled through arm 3% connected to the rod of pneumatic piston-cylinder assembly 311. Such assembly is pivoted at 32 to offset portion 33 of the frame 27. The frame also supports on each side of the hopper blow valves indicated at 1% and 35 and exhaust valves associated therewith seen at as and 3'7. An adjustable stop 38 is provided limiting extension of the piston-cylinder assembly 311 properly to position the valve member 29 tion.

At the bottom of the frame Ml there is provided a mold or core receiving frame shown generally at lll connected to the columns ill and E2. The frame ill supports upstanding rest buttons seen at di and d2 for a purpose hereinafter described and also horizontally extending roller bar assemblies 433 and 4% having inwardly directed conveyor rollers d5 thereon. Such conveyor rollers form an extension of an entry and exit conveyor system on which move plates or pallets indicated at 47. The completed molds or cores are placed on the pallets by the machine for removal therefrom. it will be appreciated that other types of conveyor systems may be employed for removal of the finished sand article.

The frame lli also has secured thereto at each side of the machine the lower ends of a pair of linear cradle guides seen at bill and fill. These guides extend vertically and are substantial solid members being connected to the head frame at 52 and 523. Additional lateral support for the guides 5t) and Sll is obtained through the transverse framing seen at M and 5d. The outside edge of each guide 54) of each pair is provided with rack teeth seen at so. the purpose of which is to square the operation of the elongated hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies 2d and 25 as will hereinafter he described.

The cradle assembly shown generally at till includes two side frames 6i and st to which the rods of the hydraulic piston-cylinder assemblies 2d and 2d are connected as indicated at till. Such frames include laterally offset portions or interconnected by tubular housing 65 through which pinion shaft so extends, on the ends of which are mounted pinions in which are in mesh with the rack teeth 56. The frame interconnecting shaft, the pinions thereon and the racks act as a squaring mechanism ensuring that the piston-cylinder assemblies M in its closed posiand 25 operate in unison. Other types of squaring mechanisms may be provided.

Each of the frames 61 and 62 includes a plurality of outwardly projecting rollers seen at 69 which ride against the interior guide surfaces 70 of the guides 50 and 51. As seen perhaps more clearly in FIG. 3 additional guide rollers may be provided as indicated at 72 running against the inside of the guides.

Each of the cradle frames 61 and 62, on the side opposite the squaring shaft 66, are provided with rollover cams indicated at 74. The profile configuration of these cams can more clearly be seen in FIG. 1.

Such trunnion frames 61 and 62 also each include a trunnion pivot as seen at 76 and 77, supporting cradle 78. The cradle, which supports the mold box, is thus pivotally mounted on the axis of the trunnions 76 and 77. Extending from the cradle are elongated clevis guides 80 and 81 in the form of a guide track. Such clevis guides are in the form of a shallow U-shape guide track as seen more clearly in FIG. 3 and within such track of each guide clevis there is situated guide rollers 82 and 83. Such guide rollers 82 and 83 are normally vertically aligned with the trunnion pivots 76 and 77. Such guide rollers are mounted on the distal ends of arms 85 and 86 which are pivotally connected at 87 and 88 to parallel links 89 and 91) which are pivoted at 91 and 92, respectively, to the frame as seen more clearly in FIG. 1. The fonner pivot may be on the transverse frame 55 supporting the guide 51.

Each of the arms 85 and 86 includes a downwardly offset portion seen at 94 to which is pivoted at 95 the end of the rod 96 of air spring assembly 97. Such air spring assembly is pivoted at 98 to the stanchion 99 projecting from the frame. Such air spring for each arm urges the arm to the left as seen in FIG. 1 causing the offset portion toabut against the stop 1110 on the guide 51. In such position, the roller 83 on the distal end of the arm is vertically aligned with the trunnion pivot 77 of the cradle.

Projecting outwardly on each arm 85 and 86 is a grooved cam follower roller 102 vertically aligned with the respective cam 74. The air springs 97 holding the arms 85 and 86 against the stop 104) vertically position the guide rollers 83 as well as the cam follower rollers 102 to facilitate the inversion of the mold box supporting cradle 78 as will hereinafter be described.

Mounted at the top of the machine are a pair of rails 104 and 105 supporting hot tip burner assembly 106 for shuttling movement from the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position over the box containing the blown molds or cores. The assembly 1416 includes a frame 107, the top part of which is provided with V-grooved rollers seen at 108 riding on the tops of the rails 104 and 105. The hot tip burner assembly 106 is a combination ejector and baking pin assembly, such pins 109 being extended and retracted by piston-cylinder assembly 110. The assembly 106 is shuttled into curing and stripping position by piston-cylinder assembly 111, the rod of which is connected at 112 to the frame 107. Such piston-cylinder assembly is pivoted at 113 to bracket 114 connected to the machine frame by the special framing shown at 115.

The cradle 78 supports a mold box as well as an ejector plate therein which is operated by movement of the ejector plate support 117 seen in FIG. 2 by means of piston-cylinder assembly 118. The support 117 is movable with respect to the cradle 78 and the ejector plate is operated by support pins 119 interconnecting the ejector plate and the support. The cylinder of the piston-cylinder assembly 118 is mounted on the bottom of the cradle by the brackets indicated at 120, but the rod is connected only to the ejector plate support 117. The ejector plate support 117 is provided with projecting stop rods 121 which engage the adjustable buttons on the upstanding rods 41 and 42 during stripping of the mold or cores onto the plate or pallet 47.

In addition to the mold box carried by the cradle, there is provided a cover 122 which is supported on the mold box but separable therefrom which forms the top of the mold box or When the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 are retracted, the cradle is in its up position clamping the mold box supported thereby against the cover 122 which is in turn clamped against the blow plate 123 on the bottom of the reservoir. In such position, the butterfly valve 29 is closed after the reservoir is filled with a sand-resin mix and the blow valves open forcing such mix into the thus formed box clamped against the blow plate. The piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 are then extended to move the mold or cores blown within the mold box to a cure position spaced from the reservoir. The spacing of the mold box from the reservoir is sufficient to permit the hot tip stripper assembly 106 to be indexed by the piston-cylinder assembly 111 above the mold box. In such position, the sand-resin mix within the mold box is cured by heat or the application of a catalyst to harden the same suffi- Y cient for stripping or removal from the mold box.

At this point, further lowering of the mold box will deposit the cover on pilot supports 13% and 131 positioned at each side of the box which extend inwardly from the bottom of the tooling support members 132 and 133, respectively. As seen in FIG. 3, there are two such tooling support members at each side of the machine and each tooling support 132 may be pivotally mounted to be swung by piston-cylinder assemblies 134 and 135 to a horizontal position and held in place by the latch members indicated at 136 and 137. Such latch members may be released by the pull chains indicated at 138. In the horizontal or inoperative position of such tooling supports, the tooling may readily be changed from the left side of the machine as viewed in FIG. 1.

When in operative position, the tooling supports will pick up the cover from the mold box as the cradle descends along the guides by the extension of the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25. With the hot tip stripper assembly above the tooling supports and, of course, the cover supported thereby, the blow holes in the cover will be cleaned out and the mold or cores stripped from the cover by extension of the pistoncylinder assembly 110. The assembly 1116 may include heating elements or a means to permeate a catalyst or accelerator through the mold to facilitate the curing of the mold in the cure position.

After the cover has been removed from the mold and the mold or cores stripped therefrom by the hot tip burner assembly 106, further extension of the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 moves the cradle and thus the mold supported thereby downwardly to be inverted by the turnover or inversion mechanism.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 4 through 9, it will be seen that as the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 extend, the cradle assembly including the cams 74 move down along the guides 50 and 51. As long as the roller 83 is in vertical alignment with the trunnion pivots '76 and 77 the cradle faces upwardly and the mold M projecting therefrom will also face upwardly. However, as soon as the cams M engage the grooved rollers 102 which are journaled by the tapered roller bearings 140 on the stub shafts 141 appearing in FIG. 4 extending from the anns 85 and 86, such arms will be retracted or moved to the right as seen in FIG. 1 against the pressure exerted by the air springs 97.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that as the cam 74 moves down to the phantom line position seen at it engages the roller 102 moving the arms 85 and 86 to the right as seen in such figures offsetting the pivot roller 83 causing the clevis guide to swing initially to the phantom line position seen at 151 through the are 152. When the cams 74! have pushed the roller 102 to the right as seen in such figures to the maximum extent, the clevis guide will be in the horizontal position 153.

As the guide roller moves from the vertical in line position to the phantom line position seen at 154, due to the action of the cam moving the arms to the right as seen in FIG. 8, the eralOl0l4 0097 die 78 will be rocked over to the horizontal position seen in phantom lines at 155. At this point, further extent of the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 may be halted and the mold or cores M may manually removed from the mold box within the cradle.

However, further continued extension of the piston-cylinder assemblies 26 and 25 will cause the cams 7d to move beyond the roller i102 permitting the springs 97 to extend the arms 85 and 86 baclt to the left to move the guide rollers b2 and 83 back to the vertical in line position with the trunnion pivots of the cradle. The guide clevis will move through the path indicated at 156 as the guide roller 83 moves baclt to the in-line position. in such return movement, the clevis moves from the phantom line position 1157 to the full line position 1158 as the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 further extend. In the latter full line position, the cradle 7% has now been completely invertedand the guide roller 83 is now back vertically in line with the trunnion pivot of such cradle.

With the cradle It! inverted and the mold M now facing downwardly toward the pallet or plate $7, the stop rods 1121 of the ejection mechanism will come to rest on the adjustable stop buttons on the top of the upwardly projecting rods 41 and 42 seen in FilG. 2. At this point there may be but a few thousandths, e.g., 0.030 inch, clearance between the mold and the plate 47. Extension of the piston-cylinder assembly 1118 will now cause the cradle and the mold box to be elevated while the stripping plate therein is held against elevation. This alone or in conjunction with retraction of the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 will clear the mold or cores for removal from the machine.

As the piston-cylinder assemblies 24 and 25 are retracted, the earns 7 move up against the guide rollers 102 causing the guide pivot rollers 82 and M to move off center to the right as seen in FIGS. ll, 8 and 9 causing the cradle to invert or again move through the phantom line position seen in FIG. 9 and then H6. 8 until the full line position is achieved seen at the top of FIG. ii at 1160. Further retraction of the piston-cylinder assemblies 2d and 25 causes the mold box supported by the cradle 78 to pick up the cover to form the completed mold box and such box is then clamped against the blow plate on the bottom of the reservoir. The hot tip stripper assembly Mlti has of course been retracted to the full line position seen in FIG. I. The next mold or core is then formed by blowing the sand-resin mix from the reservoir into the mold box.

It can now be seen that there is provided an improved foundry molding machine for the formation of foundry sand articles such as molds or cores wherein the mold box can be inverted simply by shifting the pivot rollers 82 and 83 out of the vertical path of the trunnion pivot of the cradle supporting the mold box as the latter moves therepast. The air springs 97 maintain the rollers 82 and $3 in the vertical alignment required to move the cradle straight up or straight down before or following inversion with the cam simply overcoming the force exerted by such air springs to obtain inversion as the cradle moves past the pivot rollers.

Accordingly, a foundry molding machine having an improved rollover or inversion and stripping mechanism is provided.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent ofsuch be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. ln a foundry machine, a rotation mechanism for the mold or core box comprising a cradle assembly for such box, said assembly including a trunnion pivot, linear guides for said cradle assembly, a guide roller, guide track means connecting said guide roller to said cradle assembly, and means to shift said guide roller as said cradle assembly moves adjacent thereto to obtain rotation of such box, said means to shift said guide roller comprising a cam on said cradle assembly.

2. A machine as set forth in claim ll including spring and stop means resiliently to hold said guide roller in desired position except when shifted.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring comprises an air cylinder.

is, A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide roller is mounted on an arm, a cam follower on said am adapted to be engaged by said cam as said cradle assembly moves adjacent to said guide roller shifting said arm and thus said guide roller against the pressure of said spring means.

5. A machine as set forth in claim ll wherein said cradle assembly includes side frames with a cradle for such box trunnion supported therebetween, said guide track means comprising a guide clevis extending from said cradle nd enclosing said guide roller.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the trunnion pivot of said assembly and said guide roller are normally aligned and equidistant from said linear guides.

'7. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cradle assembly includes side frames mounted for movement on said linear guides with a cradle for such box trunnion supported therebetween, and a piston-cylinder assembly connected to said side frames operative to obtain movement of said cradle assembly along said linear guides.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 1! wherein said guide roller is mounted on an arm extending transversely of said linear guides, and air spring means connected to said arm operative yieldingly to hold such arm and thus said guide roller in alignment with said trunnion pivot.

0. A machine as set forth in claim 8 including parallel linlts supporting said arm for movement transversely of said linear guides.

W. in a foundry machine, a rotation mechanism for the mold or core box comprising a cradle assembly for such box, said assembly including a trunnion pivot, linear guides for said cradle assembly, a guide roller, guide track means connecting said guide roller to said cradle assembly, means to shift said guide roller as said cradle assembly moves adjacent thereto to obtain rotation of such box, said cradle assembly including side frames mounted for movement on said linear guides with a cradle for such box trunnion supported therebetween, and a pair of piston-cylinder assemblies, one connected to each side frame operative to obtain movement of said cradle assembly along said linear guides, and a rack and pinion squaring mechanism connected to said linear guides to obtain movement of said piston-cylinder assemblies in unison.

ill. in a foundry machine, a rotation mechanism for the mold or core box comprising a cradle assembly for such box, said assembly including a trunnion pivot, linear guides for said cradle assembly, a guide roller, guide traclt means connecting said guide roller to said cradle assembly, means to shift said guide roller as said cradle assembly moves adjacent thereto to obtain rotation of such box, said guide roller being mounted on an ann extending transversely of said linear guides, air spring means connected to said arm operative yieldingly to hold such arm and thus said guide roller in alignment with said trunnion pivot, a grooved roller on said arm, and a cam on said cradle assembly operative to engage said grooved roller and retract said arm transversely of said linear guides thus to shift said guide roller as aforesaid. 

1. In a foundry machine, a rotation mechanism for the mold or core box comprising a cradle assembly for such box, said assembly including a trunnion pivot, linear guides for said cradle assembly, a guide roller, guide track means connecting said guide roller to said cradle assembly, and means to shift said guide roller as said cradle assembly moves adjacent thereto to obtain rotation of such box, said means to shift said guide roller comprising a cam on said cradle assembly.
 2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 including spring and stop means resiliently to hold said guide roller in desired position except when shifted.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring comprises an air cylinder.
 3. A machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said guide roller is mounted on an arm, a cam follower on said arm adapted to be engaged by said cam as said cradle assembly moves adjacent to said guide roller shifting said arm and thus said guide roller against the pressure of said spring means.
 5. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cradle assembly includes side frames with a cradle for such box trunnion supported therebetween, said guide track means comprising a guide clevis extending from said cradle and enclosing said guide roller.
 6. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the trunnion pivot of said assembly and said guide roller are normally aligned and equidistant from said linear guides.
 7. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cradle assembly includes side frames mounted for movement on said linear guides with a cradle for such box trunnion supported therebetween, and a piston-cylinder assembly connected to said side frames operative to obtain movement of said cradle assembly along said linear guides.
 8. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide roller is mounted on an arm extending transversely of said linear guides, and air spring means connected to said arm operative yieldingly to hold such arm and thus said guide roller in alignment with said trunnion pivot.
 9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 including parallel links supporting said arm for movement transversely of said linear guides.
 10. In a foundry machine, a rotation mechanism for the mold or core box comprising a cradle assembly for such box, said assembly including a trunnion pivot, linear guides for said cradle assembly, a guide roller, guide track means connecting said guide roller to said cradle assembly, means to shift said guide roller as said cradle assembly moves adjacent thereto to obtain rotation of such box, said cradle assembly including side frames mounted for movement on said linear guides with a cradle for such box trunnion supported therebetween, and a pair of piston-cylinder assemblies, one connected to each side frame operative to Obtain movement of said cradle assembly along said linear guides, and a rack and pinion squaring mechanism connected to said linear guides to obtain movement of said piston-cylinder assemblies in unison.
 11. In a foundry machine, a rotation mechanism for the mold or core box comprising a cradle assembly for such box, said assembly including a trunnion pivot, linear guides for said cradle assembly, a guide roller, guide track means connecting said guide roller to said cradle assembly, means to shift said guide roller as said cradle assembly moves adjacent thereto to obtain rotation of such box, said guide roller being mounted on an arm extending transversely of said linear guides, air spring means connected to said arm operative yieldingly to hold such arm and thus said guide roller in alignment with said trunnion pivot, a grooved roller on said arm, and a cam on said cradle assembly operative to engage said grooved roller and retract said arm transversely of said linear guides thus to shift said guide roller as aforesaid. 